Automatic train-switching device



Nov. 13, 1928. I 1,691,296

I. I. LlTVlNCHEV AUTOMATIC TRAIN SWITCHING DEVICE Filed Dec. 5, 192? IVA/V f. .Z/TV/NCHE'V INVENTOR ATTORNEY T E S PATENT OFFICE.

IVAN I. LI'rviNcHEv, on Moscow, RUSSIA.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN --SWITC}IIN G DEVICE.

Application filed December 5. 1927. SeriaLNo. 237,870.

My invention relates to automatic train switching devices and has, a particular reference to devices adapted to switch the train from one track to the other by means of a mechanism controlled from the engineers cab. I

. In ordinary railroad practice, in order to switch the train from one track to the other, it is necessary to employ a movable switch on the ground adapted to establish connec tion from one track to one of the two others. This switch must be controlled from a stationary control post.

In many cases, however it is desirable to leave to the engineer the selection of the track on which to direct his train. With this object in view I employ a stationary frog instead of a movable switch at the point of a fork or where two tracks merge into one. In a coordination with each of the two diverging tracks I use stationary guides in the form of, channeled rails.

Under the frame of the locomotive I place members adapted to selectively engage one or the other of the guiding rails, thereby forcing the engine to follow one or the other track. l/Vith this arrangement the engineer can direct his train at will on any of the tracks at the switching points, so that it is not necessary to employ switchmen for this purpose and to maintain an elaborate system of mechanically or electrically operated track switches.

My invention is more fully described in the accompanying specifications anddrawing in which- Fig. 1 is a front view of a railroad car or locomotive partly in section showing my device, Fig. 2 is an elevation of same, Fig. 3 is a plan view of a frog with my guiding rails, and Fig. 4 is a plan view showing .modified switch arrangement.

My device comprises guiding wheels 1 in clevices 2 on shafts 3 at the end of plunger rods 4. One of the wheels is placed at the right side of the vehicle 5 (such as a locomofive or a railroad car), and the other at the left side. The plunger 4 has a piston 5 on the end in an air cylinder 6. The air may be admitted under the upper or lower surface of the piston by means of pipes 7 and 8 from an air compressor (not shown), using any suitable controlling valve, conveniently located in the engineers cab or near the controller of a street car, as the case might be.

The left wheel 1 (Fig. 1) is shown ina lowered position, and the right wheel 1.-in a raised or inoperative position. y

nstead of an air cylinder any ordinary suitable mechanism may be employed for moving the rod 4 with the wheel 1 down, for instance, a steam cylinder or an electromagnet or electric solenoid. 1

At the pointwhere two tracks converge into one, as shownin ig. 3,1 employ stationary frogs 9 and 9 with channeled rails 10, 11, 10 and 11', converging into rails 12 and 12.

Guiding rails 13 and 15 are laced between the tracks and are securely astened to the roadbead or ties. The guiding rails have grooves 14 and 14 adapted to be engaged by corresponding wheels 1 or 1.

The guiding rail 13 is parallel to the rail 11 and follows its direction and curvature, and the guiding rail 15 isparallel to the rail 10 and follows its curvature. The entering ends of the guiding rails are placed beyond the point where the rails begin to divide, as shown in Fig. 3.

The guiding wheels 1 and 1 are placed in front of the locomotive or car wheels 16 and 17.

The operation of my device is as follows.

WVhen the train approaches the fork or switching point from one track to the other, the engineer or motorman operates his switching controller so asto lower the corresponding guiding wheel. If, for instance, he is going in a direction of an arrow 18 (Fig. 3) and wants to turn on the left track, he lowers the left guiding wheel 1, as shown in Fig. 1, so that this wheel enters the groove 14: in the guiding rail 15 while the locomotive wheels are still on the single track (rails 12 and 12). With the further movement of the train the wheel 1 will roll in the groove 14 causing the wheels 16 and 17 to follow rails 10 and 10'.

For sharp curves the guiding rails 13 and 15 may be made higher than the main rails of the tracks in order to avoid any possibility for the wheels 1 and 1 to strike the rails 10 or 11, if the guiding wheel is kept in an operating posit-ion longer than it isnecessary.

In cases when one track is straight and the other curves away from it, as shown in Fig. 4, only one guiding rail 19 is necessary, being arranged to follow the curvature of the side rails 20 and 21.

Important advantages of my device are that it enables the man in charge of the train to select the proper track and to switch his train on this track without any assistance from switchmen or other operators, also that movable switches on the tracks become unnecessary with my arrangement.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an automatic train switching device, the combination with guidin rails attached to the roadbed at points 0% switching between track rails, each of said guiding rails being parallel to its respective track rail, of guiding wheels supported underneath the 'body of a railroad vehicle, said guidin wheels being adapted to slide in a vertica directiom'and an elastic fluid operated means to move said guiding wheels so as to selec tively bring'them in an operating engagemcntwith said guiding rails,

2. In an automatic train switching device,

the combination with guiding rails attached to the roadbed at points of switching between track rails, each of said guiding rails being parallel to its respective track rail, of' guiding wheels supported underneath the body of a railroad vehicle, said guiding wheels being adapted to move in a vertical direct-ion, pistons operatively connected with 

